Chopper rescues bushwalker from Mapleton Falls National Park

A RESCUE helicopter has rescued a seriously ill bushwalker from the Mapleton Falls National Park this afternoon.

Shortly before 2.30pm, the Maroochydore-based RACQ CareFlight Rescue helicopter was tasked to the national park, after reports a female bushwalker had succumbed to a pre-existing medical condition.

After liaising with Queensland Parks and Wildlife Services rangers on the ground, the decision was made to winch a flight paramedic down to the woman due to heavily forested terrain and approaching inclement weather.

It is understood that the flight paramedic, wildlife rangers, and Queensland Ambulance Service paramedics were able to carry the patient out of the remote location on a stretcher.

After being assessed in nearby Mapleton, the woman was transported by road ambulance to Nambour General Hospital in the care of the CareFlight Retrieval Doctor and flight paramedic.